English

Verb

keep one's counsel

1. To keep one's own business private; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning one's own thoughts, deeds, or situation.
   • 1850, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis, ch. 6:

     As he held his mother to him, he longed to tell her all, but he kept his counsel.

   • 1982, "Personal Power, Personal Hate," Time, 26 Jul.:

     Khomeini's approach to decision making is to keep his counsel at first, allowing the advocates of different options to debate issues openly.

2. To keep a secret for someone else; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning someone else's thoughts, deeds, or situation.
   • 1822, Sir Walter Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. 8:

     I am sorry this is a matter I cannot aid you in—it goes against my conscience, and it is an affair above my condition, and beyond my management;—but I will keep your counsel.

   • 1871–72, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Chapter 49

     Standish will keep our counsel, and the news will be old before it's known.

Synonyms

• (to keep one's own business private): hold one's peace, keep one's cards close to one's chest, keep one's mouth shut, keep one's own counsel
• (to keep a secret for someone else): keep one's mouth shut